Review on service performance valuation and health maintenance of highway bridge expansion joints

Abstract

Bridge expansion joints (EJs) are important components and have a significant impact on the serviceability and traffic safety of bridge structures. Harsh service conditions and overloading have caused severe damage and performance deterioration of EJs, which result in frequent safety incidents and high maintenance costs. These issues have become the major challenges in bridge operation and management. This work provides a comprehensive review of previous studies concerning the in-service performance inspection, assessment, health maintenance and scientific management of highway EJs, including design basis, theoretical and numerical analysis of mechanical behavior, on-site detection and monitoring techniques, damage identification and condition assessment methods, operation management and maintenance measures. The existing researches are systematically integrated and sorted out, the current research progress is reviewed and evaluated, some problems and shortcomings of current research are analyzed, and future research topics are recommended.